Police Officer Throws Dog from Patrol Boat into Sea near Pašman

A disturbing video showing police action at sea near the island of Pašman spread rapidly on social media on Sunday. It clearly shows one of three police officers on an official vessel lifting a dog and throwing it over the railing into the sea, sparking a wave of negative reactions and public outrage.

The video was initially posted in the Facebook group "Police Stop - Zadar County." It shows two officers subduing a man on the bow, while a third officer approaches a dog moving around the boat. According to viewers, the dog does not appear aggressive, but the officer grabs it and throws it into the sea. The dog then swam and tried to return to the vessel.

Police: Dog Jumped on Board on Its Own and Posed a Threat

Due to numerous inquiries, the Zadar Police Department issued a statement, providing a detailed explanation of the entire incident to 24sata and Slobodna Dalmacija. According to their version, the incident occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at approximately 5:40 PM in the town of Kraj on the island of Pašman.

Officers from the Zadar Maritime and Airport Police Station intervened after a report that an anchored sailboat was disturbing swimmers. On board, they found a 37-year-old Croatian citizen and his dog. A check revealed that the man was wanted on suspicion of committing a criminal offense related to crimes against marriage, children, and family in the Karlovac County area.

"Checks conducted by police officers established that he was a 37-year-old Croatian citizen who was wanted on suspicion of committing a criminal offense in the domain of crimes against marriage, children, and family in the Karlovac County area. Once the officers began their intervention, the man immediately offered active resistance and jumped into the sea from the boat along with his dog, whom he treated inappropriately, submerging its head underwater several times," the Zadar Police Department told 24sata.

Resistance, Insults, and Alcohol

After the man was brought onto the official vessel, he continued to resist. According to the police, he "wildly waved his arms and legs in an attempt to damage the official vessel," physically attacked the officers, and insulted and belittled them. He was arrested using coercive measures, and a breathalyzer test confirmed the presence of alcohol in his system. A medical examination at Zadar General Hospital confirmed minor injuries for both the 37-year-old and one police officer.

Regarding the dog itself, the police offer a different picture than what the video shows. They claim the dog jumped onto the official vessel on its own and that there was an "immediate danger of running aground" and a "threat of the dog attacking the police officers."

"During the police intervention, the dog of the 37-year-old owner jumped onto the official vessel on its own, and due to the immediate danger of the vessel running aground and the threat of the dog attacking the police officers who were dealing with his owner on the official vessel, in agreement with the communal officer, the dog was released into the sea, where it was taken in by the communal officer who assumed further care of the dog," reads the response from the Zadar Police Department to Slobodna Dalmacija.

Communal Officer Took Over Care of the Dog

The police add that at the beginning of the intervention, they informed the competent communal officer of the need to care for the dog. The officer was on land near the official vessel during the event, and after the dog was released into the sea, he took it in and assumed further care.

Due to active resistance and an attack on police officers, the 37-year-old will face a criminal investigation and appropriate charges. However, the video continued to provoke strong reactions on social media, with comments under the post including "Horrible!" and "Poor dog," along with numerous questions about the dog's fate.